Citizen

“Citizen” (2001) directed by Saravana Subbiah is a masala action film. It stars Ajith Kumar in double roles opposite Meena and Vasundhara Das. The movie tracks his mission, which Anthony takes on under the assumption of several different identities, as he abducts three key government players and tries to bring them to his side. At the same time, a tenacious CBI inspector sets into motion a dogs-the-hunt sort of pursuit to find out who’s really behind the abductions.

Abdullah, a mechanic and legal adviser, doesn’t return the affections of a schoolgirl named Indhu who has a crush on him. Because of this crisis, during a major rally of lawyers, Abdullah under the pseudonym “Citizen” kidnaps a judge and a tax collector, both of whom are tied to a 1995 episode in a town known as Attipatti. The CBI, led by Senior Officer Sarojini Harichandran, investigates these kidnappings and discovers that Attipatti once existed, linked to a riot years back.

Sarojini is informed of bodies buried in mass graves around Attipatti and discovers a tombstone memorial with the names of the villagers shot dead by local officials following an unsuccessful petition for flood defense. As Abdullah tries to make sense of his fate, we learn that he has very personal ties to this tragic past. As the CBI closes in, they arrest Abdullah, who confesses about the atrocities in Attipatti where corrupt officials betrayed the villagers, leading to their deaths.

In the trial, Abdullah maintains that the officials’ punishment should reflect their deep corruption and the pain they inflicted on people. The court agrees to change the punishment, but in the end Abdullah, for his actions against the unjust system, is freed with the understanding that while imprisoned he feels for his struggle for justice.

An engrossing action thriller that mixes social consciousness with nail-biting suspense, the film takes us into the battle against systemic corruption from the inside with a darkhorse, rule-breaking protagonist. Beyond its layered identities and a riveting, high-stakes investigation, it’s the film’s exploration of justice vs. accountability vs. moral consequence that leaves viewers so thoroughly rattled. By virtue of powerful imagery, firm storytelling, and an emotional undertone, it’s a profound and effective educational and visual movie-going experience.